There are teams out there that make me happy when they lose. It's almost the same kind of happy I get when my favorite teams win. Here they are in no particular order (although Real Madrid is number one, without question):
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Celtic
PSV or Feyenoord
Boca (a clear second to RM)
Inter Milan
Blooming (Bolivia)
Bayern Munchen
On the Pitch with Maradona
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Serious Contenders
Manchester United look good. They haven't gone wild in the transfer window and, frankly, why would they? The question remains...can they get to the end and handle Barcelona? It's a good problem for me. I am die-hard for both (though this time I wouldn't mind if MU go the better of Barca...just to even things out a bit). They haven't even played Berbatov and Valencia yet.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Ecuadorian
Antonio Valencia signed up for another four years with Manchester United. This guy is a great player - a classic winger. This is their best move of the off season.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Roots of the Passion
I have played the game of soccer for decades. More decades than I will admit. I played the game professionally for a short time, in Bolivia. I took some time off from college to do it - just to prove to myself that I could. It was a short and sweet interlude before I got married, finished college and moved on with my life. I'm glad I did it, but this blog is less about playing the game than it is about the teams I follow. I am passionate about few things. Following my teams is one of them, and I don't limit myself to a single one.
My first favorite club team was Liga Deportiva Universitaria, also known as LDU. I started following them in 1970, when my family moved to Quito, Ecuador. I was introduced to them by Jeff Cadena, my best friend at the time. He still lives in Quito.
But my really, really favorite team at the time was the Brazilian National Team. Carlos Alberto, Rivelinho, Tostao, Jairzinho, Gerson and, of course, Pele (my favorite player of all time).
Along came the Dutch National Team in the early 70's with Cruyff and company: Rep, Krol, Neeskens, Rensenbrink, to name a few. Their brand of total football was amazing to watch, and I was hooked. The were the best in 1974 and in 1978, hands down. Unfortunately, they had the misfortune of having to play the host country national teams and lost in both finals. The Argentines cheated, bribed the refs, and I have despised their national squad since.
Ajax became my first favorite Euro club because that was where Johan Cruyff played, and when he moved to Barcelona, I became a die-hard fan of that club. He later coached the team, and my allegiance was sealed forever. I will get it out now. I have a lot of favorite teams - pretty much one in each on the powerhouse soccer playing countries (Argentina included) - but I have two that stand above the rest: Barcelona and Manchester United. I almost had a heart attack when they met in the Champion's League final a few years back. It's been a pretty good run for both lately, but I've had to go through some lean times over the decades.
Here's my list of favorite teams (in no particular order):
Italy: AC Milan
Germany: Borussia Moenchengladbach
Holland: Ajax
Scotland: Rangers
Spain: Barcelona
England: Manchester United
Brazil: Santos
Argentina: Independiente
Ecuador: LDU
Bolivia: Oriente Petrolero
France: PSG
National Teams: Brazil and The Netherlands
There is a story behind each one - and I will get to them later. I usually started following a team when they featured one or more of my favorite players.
Lots more to come: my most hated teams (like Real Madrid), the players that got me to follow each favorite team (like Gullit, VanBaasten, Rikyard with AC Milan), how my teams are doing in 2011, who my favorite players are right now (like Xavi, Iniesta, Giggs), etc.
My first favorite club team was Liga Deportiva Universitaria, also known as LDU. I started following them in 1970, when my family moved to Quito, Ecuador. I was introduced to them by Jeff Cadena, my best friend at the time. He still lives in Quito.
But my really, really favorite team at the time was the Brazilian National Team. Carlos Alberto, Rivelinho, Tostao, Jairzinho, Gerson and, of course, Pele (my favorite player of all time).
Along came the Dutch National Team in the early 70's with Cruyff and company: Rep, Krol, Neeskens, Rensenbrink, to name a few. Their brand of total football was amazing to watch, and I was hooked. The were the best in 1974 and in 1978, hands down. Unfortunately, they had the misfortune of having to play the host country national teams and lost in both finals. The Argentines cheated, bribed the refs, and I have despised their national squad since.
Ajax became my first favorite Euro club because that was where Johan Cruyff played, and when he moved to Barcelona, I became a die-hard fan of that club. He later coached the team, and my allegiance was sealed forever. I will get it out now. I have a lot of favorite teams - pretty much one in each on the powerhouse soccer playing countries (Argentina included) - but I have two that stand above the rest: Barcelona and Manchester United. I almost had a heart attack when they met in the Champion's League final a few years back. It's been a pretty good run for both lately, but I've had to go through some lean times over the decades.
Here's my list of favorite teams (in no particular order):
Italy: AC Milan
Germany: Borussia Moenchengladbach
Holland: Ajax
Scotland: Rangers
Spain: Barcelona
England: Manchester United
Brazil: Santos
Argentina: Independiente
Ecuador: LDU
Bolivia: Oriente Petrolero
France: PSG
National Teams: Brazil and The Netherlands
There is a story behind each one - and I will get to them later. I usually started following a team when they featured one or more of my favorite players.
Lots more to come: my most hated teams (like Real Madrid), the players that got me to follow each favorite team (like Gullit, VanBaasten, Rikyard with AC Milan), how my teams are doing in 2011, who my favorite players are right now (like Xavi, Iniesta, Giggs), etc.
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